Cleaning clipper blades with distilled white vinegar

If you want to skip on purchasing an additional product, you can achieve similar results with a well-known household helper.

Yes, it’s the good ol’ distilled white vinegar.

Who hasn’t used it for cleaning the insides of their fridge, washing machine or microwave? It only makes sense you can trust white vinegar on helping you clean your hair clippers too.

White vinegar is pretty cheap and, being an acidic solution, will combat mold and bacteria properly. It’s 100% non-toxic and will refresh your hair clipper blades by killing dirt and any grime they might have accumulated.

That said, blade washes are professional products. They have a stronger, long-lasting effect.

I’d recommend you use one of them, but ultimately, it’s up to you. If you don’t use your hair cutting machine that much, white vinegar will do just fine.

How to clean your hair clippers at home:
Step by step guide

Clipper cleaning is a pretty easy task that won’t take much of your time. All in all, it can be divided into five stages, no matter if you go with the blade wash or white vinegar/home solutions. Let me guide you through quickly.

Remove the batteries & unplug the clipper

The first thing you want to do is remove your hair cutting machine’s batteries. Also, please make sure that your clipper’s unplugged.

Get rid of any hair & open the machine

Next, you want to get rid of all the hair that has accumulated. You might be surprised how many of it can be found in seemingly impossible places.

The usual suspect is hair latched onto the blades themselves. Many clippers come with small brushes when you buy them, so use these. If you don’t have one, gently bump the clipper and shake it a little.

You want to remove the blades and other parts so you can clean them properly. It’s easy – just use a screwdriver (flat head) and open the clipper.

The blade will pop out and you’ll detach it without too much effort. Get some brushing action there too. Keep in mind that different hair clipper models might disassemble in different ways.

It’s time for the big moment: the actual cleaning. If you’re using a blade wash like Andis Blade Care Plus, you can first let the blades and head soak in warm water for a bit.

After a few minutes, take them out and lightly apply some of the blade solution.

If you’re going the distilled white vinegar route, mix some of it with water (50:50 ratio). Then, let the blades and head soak in this mixture for a while.

There’s no magical “time frame” here, but leave them for 20 minutes to half an hour so they soak properly.

Afterwards, start rinsing them and gently clean with a soft cloth.

Let your hair clipper parts dry out a bit

This step is especially important if you opted to try out the white vinegar and water method. You should let every part you cleaned air dry properly. Preferably, you’d want to place them on a clean, soft towel.

Drying might take anywhere from half an hour to an hour usually – less if you decided to go with the blade wash.

You’re good to go!

Finished! Wasn’t that hard, right? Now all you need to remember is to clean your hair clippers often enough.

Tips when you oil your clipper blades

As I mentioned, oiling your clippers will make it or break it. Failing to oil them properly will reduce their lifespan and swarm you with hair cutting headaches.

This is especially true for heavy-duty, professional clippers. Some models like the Remington HC4250 won’t require regular oiling, but these are rare cases.

Luckily, oiling clippers is as ridiculously easy as the cleaning process I described beforehand. All in all, you only need to:

Make sure both your hair clipper blades and head are dry. Clean any leftover hair.

Tilt the clipper downward, the flat part of the head being away from you. You might want to stand over a sink so oil doesn’t drip down on clean surfaces.

Turn it on and start oiling the clippers! Apply some drops of oil, spreading across the top of the blades. Take care that there’s no oil going back inside. Any excess drops after you finished oiling your clippers? Fetch some paper and dab them.

General tips on hair clipper maintenance

While clipper maintenance isn’t rocket science, there are a few essential things to look out for.

Always make sure you’ve reassembled the blades and head properly! Your blades should be both properly aligned and tightened closely.

Don’t look for easy substitutes when it comes to oiling your blades. Using any other type of oil may compromise your hair cutter’s functioning or even damage it irreversibly. Stick to the approved quality of branded electric clipper oil products like Wahl’s.

Don’t use too much electric clipper oil! You want a few drops, not to drown your blades and ruin them!

Clean your hair clippers frequently. It really depends on how often you cut your hair, but once per week/once every three to four uses is what I recommend.

Remember to use a gentle brush. You can either use a toothbrush or simply fetch a dedicated cleaning brush like Andis blade brush. Keep in mind clipper cleaning brushes tend to be on the small side. If you need something bigger, a toothbrush is your best friend.

Frequently recommended products

You’ll usually receive a small cleaning brush and a small tube of clipper oil with most hair clippers you purchase. Needless to say, the oil will get depleted at some point.

Cooling sprays/disinfection: I use Andis Cool Careas it’s an all-in-1 solution. Not only does it clean and disinfect, it also lubricates and cools off blades. To top it off, it acts as an anti-rusting agent.

4 Comments

George
on August 25, 2017 at 1:26 pm

Hello Ryan. Is the “Oster Blade Wash” product suitable for my wahl clipper? (I just did my first haircut with’em yesterday and I can’t tell how excited I am, perfect fading with the half guards!)Although I cleaned them thoroughly with the small brush and oiled them, I’ve noticed that there is a few remaining hair between the inside of the clippers. I saw a few vids on the tube, where dudes submerging their blades inside this liquid sollution. What’s your thoughts about it? Thanks!

It feels great, doesn’t it? I admit I felt a little nostalgic when I read your comment. The first self-haircut is always the sweetest…

There shouldn’t be any problem. Blades between brands are frequently interchangeable – the same applies to cleaning solutions. I haven’t heard of anyone encountering a problem with swapping Andis and Oster’s bladewashes.

Yes, hair is a stubborn asshole sometimes. A few strays can remain even with a blade wash. I used to unscrew my clipper head once per half an year or so to get them out. I have very thick hair and it was a problem.

Hello Ryan, what’s up? I have a question, my friend: Although I’m cleaning my blades after every cut with the blade wash solution and oiling them, I’ve noticed some small unremovable dark spots. Why is this happening and what must I do to remove them? Thank you.